Portable vacuum nozzle for filling tanks



Apnl 2l', 1959 P. J. scHARRlNGHAUsL-:N 2,882,935

PORTABLE VACUUM N'ozzm FCR FILLING TANKS Filed April 25, 1955 ,I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII offra@ g5 I PORTABLE VACUUM NOZZLE FOR FILLING TANKS Paul J. Scharringhausen, Riverside, Calif. Application April 25, 1955, Serial No. 503,688

Claims. (Cl. 141-43) The present invention relates to a portable vacuum nozzle for lling tanks and more particularly to such a nozzle -for fueling gasoline-operated vehicles, especially gasoline-operated aircraft.

Under the modern day `conventional practice of fueling gasoline-operated vehicles, gasoline is forced into a vehicle tank against air which must be displaced from within .the tank, thus causing splashing and spillage of gasoline which constitutes an ever-constant fire hazard at every fueling depot. Also important, the rate at which the gasoline tank may be filled is severely limited 'by the escaping air. As a result the time consumed in filling large gasoline tanks, such as those found on aircraft, is excessive, especially in view of military requirements and the exacting time schedules maintained in the iiight of commercial aircraft.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a vacuum nozzle which employs a concentric tube arrangement for effecting rapid filling of a tank with fluid together with novel means for simultaneously withdrawing displaced air, vapors and fumes from within the tank. It is a particular object of the invention to provide a vacuum nozzle especially adaptable for fueling airplanes, which enables the total fueling time to be reduced to a few minutes.

It is an ancillary object of the present invention to provide va novel vacuum nozzle for filling tanks which is not required to be rigidly fixed to a tank being filled, but may be portably mounted upon and used to fill manually Aa plurality of tanks in succession.

Another object of the invention is to provide a v-acuum nozzle for filling gasoline-operated vehicles Which avoids fire hazards attendant to the use of conventional filling devices due to splashing of gasoline outside of the tank being filled by eliminating inter-ference with the incoming gasoline, by outgoing air, vapors and fumes being displaced from the tank.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a vacuum nozzle for filling tanks which, although portably mountable on a succession of tanks, still employs a novel liquid-tight lseal between the nozzle and each tank, which seal serves a dual purpose by assuring positively no leakage of fluid during lling and, at the same time, preventing `dissipation o-f the Vac-uum being applied to the tank.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a vacuum nozzle for filling tanks having a built-in vacuum relief which may be employed to automatically break the vacuum when the tank is full, or which may be manually operated to break the vacuum at any time desired, such as when the tank is only partially full or when a certain volume has been admitted thereto.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a unitary nozzle for filling tanks which is inexpensive, simple, easy to operate, 'and which requires a minimum of care and maintenance.

Other objects and advantages. will become. apparent n'nited States Patent Patented Apr. 21V, 1,959

,i ice 2 uponreading the attached detailed description, reference to the drawing, inwhich:

Figure l is an elevation ofI the device employed in practicing the present invention as used in conjunction with 'a tank to be filled. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the inventive device as applied toa tank opening and in position for filling the tank. y

Fig. 3 is a vertical fragmentary section similar tov Fig. 2, but illustrating the inventive device in position when the tank is full.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken along the line' 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. l While the linvention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that I do not intend to limit the invention thereto, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling Within ythe spirit land scope of the appended claims.

Turning now to the drawings, a lling nozzle 10 is provided adaptable for filling a tank 12 through an opening 13 in the top thereof, as shown in Fig. 1. Upon reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the device includes a tube 14, preferably formed from metal tubing, having an annular seal ring 16 of rubber or the like affixed near one end thereof, so that the seal ringy acts as an external flange about the end of Ithe tube. By choice of design, the tube 14 is bent at an acute angle with fthe vertical to facilitate manual handling thereof. The tank 12, as shown, is provided with an upstanding conventional inlet pipe 18 which defines the opening 13 in the tank. It is the usual practice to -atlix an inlet flange 20 to the upper end of the pipe 18 to facilitate connection od a closure cap (not shown) thereto.

Arranged concentrically within the tube 14 is a liquidl conduit 22, also preferably formed from metal tubing, having an inlet end 22a` and an outlet end 22b, and adapted for passage of fluid therethrough.v It will be notedthat the conduit 22 is somewhat longer than the tube 14 land is positioned within the tube so that each of the' ends of the conduit projects beyond the corresponding end of the tube. As a result the'inlet end 22a of the conduit 22 is free tobe attached by means of a suitable coupling 24 to a supply line 26.. lThe outlet end 22h of the conduit 22 extends concentrically within the inlet pipe 18 and is arranged to terminate at a point just within the inner peripheryof the tank 12. For the purpose of sealing the space between the tube 14 and the conduit 22, which space constitutes an annular chamber 28, upper and lower annular end plates 29, 30, respectively, cutrfrom metal plate, are provided between the ends of the tube and the wall of the conduit.

Attention is next drawn to the lprovision of a vacuum opening 32 in .the upper end plate 29 for communication with a suitable vacuum line 34 which may lead to atmosphere, to a suitable collecting vessel, or back to the source of fluid supply, such disposition of the air, vapors and fumesfrom Within thetank being a common expedient in the art to which the present invention relates. Furthermore, the lower end plate 30 has a plurality of annularly arranged evacuationholes 36 which communicate between the chamber 28 and the opening 13. Thus it is seen that upon the application of a vacuum from the line 34, the chamber 2'8 becomes evacuated through the opening 32 and acts to withdraw air, vapors and fumes from within the tank 12 through the opening 13 and through the evacuation holes 36, such removed air, vapors and fumes then passing to the vacuum line 34.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a novel arrangement for cutting olf the vacuum is employed and upon 4when the tank is full. Upon reference to file drawing,...

it will be seen that an annular oat 38 is arranged within the opening 13 and telescopedv over the lower end 22b of the liquid conduit 22. The oat 38 reposes between vertically disposed oat supports 4U, formed from metal rods, which hold the .lloat in place Aabout the conduit 22 and also permit some verticalmovement of the oat. The supports 40 are bent inwardly at their ends 41, which ends are suitably secured to the conduit 22 to define the vertical limits of travel of the float 38. Also disposed within the opening 13 and positioned between the float 38 and the lower end plate 30 is an annular closure disc or plate 42 cut from metal plate, which is held in an upwardly extended position from the float by a plurality of longitudinal disc supports 44. The uppermost face of the disc 42 and the lower surface of the end plate 30 are machined so as to present oppositely disposed at surfaces, so that these surfaces assume an .abutting relationship when face-to-face. Rigidly aflixed to the disc 42 at one portion of its at surface is an upstanding longitudinal rod 46 which carries on its upper end a vacuum release plate 48. Operatively associated with the plate 48 is a release passage 50 apertured within the wall of the tube 14, and it is noted 'that the release plate is adapted to conform to the slightly curved inner surface of the tube. As shown in the drawing, the rod 46 is small enough in transverse cross-section to permit upward and downward sliding passage thereof through one of the evacuation holes 36 in the lower end plate 30.

The operation of the lling nozzle may be understood upon reference to Figs. 2 and 3 which show the position of the nozzle during filling of the tank 12, and after the tank is full, respectively. Referring now to Fig. 2, when negative pressure forces from the vacuum line 34 are applied to the annular chamber 28, such forces are transmitted through the evacuation holes 36 in the lower plate 30"-and into the opening 13 of the tank 12 so as to evacuate air, vapors and fumes from the empty tank. At this time the iioat 38 is not buoyed up since there is no uid in the tank, and accordingly, the oat rests upon the lower portions of the oat supports 40. In this position of the oat 38, the release plate 48 carried by the rod 46 and the closure disc 42 is in a closed position over the release passage 50 and the disc 42 is in an open position with respect to the evacuation holes 36. The resulting vacuum created within the tank 12 then acts .to draw iluid from the supply line 26, under the inuence of the negative pressure dilerential, through the liquid conduit 22, out the lower end 22b thereof, and into the tank 12. As any residual air, vapors and fumes within the tank 12 are displaced by the incoming uid, such air, vapors and fumes are simultaneously removed through the opening 13 by means of the vacuum forces which are continually exerted throughout the lilling period.

Whenithe tank 12 has become full of fluid, the level of the fluid begins to rise within the inlet pipe 18 and at this time the `uid buoys the float 38 and the float rides upwardly with the liquid level until the upper portion of the oat 38 contacts -the upper portions of the float supports 40. At this upper limit position of the oat 38, the closure disc 42 abuts tightly against the lower surface of the plate 30 so that the evacuation holes 36 are sealed oiflfrom communication with the interior of the tank 12 through the opening 13, and the vacuum is thereby cut oit. Simultaneously with the sealing olf of the holes 36, it will be seen upon reference to Fig. 3, that the release plate 48 moves upwardly `a distance equal to the upward travel of the oat 38 so that the release passage 50 is opened and atmospheric air immediately rushes into the chamber 28 through the passage 50 to .effect dissipation of the vacuum forces. In this way, the oat 38, disc 42, rod 46, and plate 48, acting in cooperation with the evacuation holes 36 and release passage 50,

serve not only to cut olf the vacuum `when the tank 12 full,l but also to automatically terminate the `ow of ins,

fluid through the conduit 22. With the closure of the disc 42 over the evacuation holes 36 and the severing of the vacuum forces from the interior of the tank 12, there is no longer a pressure differential driving force for transferring fluid from the supply line 26 to the tank and the flow of iluid stops accordingly.

The present invention is also concerned with the provision of a manually operable vacuum release mechanism 51 by means of which the chamber 28 and tank 12 may be controllably vented at any time desired. Upon particular reference to Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will be observed that an apertured outlet S2 is formed in the wall of the tube 14 external to the opening 13. Externally 'secured to the tube 14 by means of a bracket 54 is a button-type valve member S6 which is pivotable at the central portion thereof about a pin 58 and which serves to controllably open or close the outlet 52 so as to dissipate or maintain the vacuum within the chamber 28. Thus, the filling of the tank 12 may be discontinued by manual operation of the release mechanism 51 when the liquid in the tank reaches any predetermined level.

One of the features of the present invention resides in the provision of a vacuum nozzle which is especially adaptable for fueling gasoline-operated vehicles and especially airplanes, which facilitates rapid delivery of large volumes of gasoline to the storage tanks of such vehicles in a relatively short period of time. It is found in practice that the filling nozzle employed in practicing the present invention eliminates the wasteful and dangerous splashing of gasoline outside of the tank being filled, which splashing is inherent in the operation of conventional filling device in which there is interference with the incoming stream of gasoline by the outward rush of gli, vapors and fumes being displaced from the tank being Another feature of the inventive device is that it embodies a lilling nozzle which need not be rigidly iixed to a tank being filled, but may be easily held in place manually upon the tank and need be so held in place only during the time that the latter is being filled. It is thus seen that the device is readily adaptable to production line lling requirements since it may be repeatedly and quickly mounted upon a plurality of tanks in succession. Yet in spite of such ease of use with different tanks, a liquid-tight seal ring is provided for sealing the nozzle to the opening of any given tank. Again, no fastening devices need be used to secure the nozzle to such opening since the seal ring is preferably fashioned from a pliable material, such as rubber, so that exertion of slight manual pressure upon the nozzle and against the opening is suflicient to effect a positive seal therebetween. It is a feature of the invention that the seal ring not only prevents spillage of gasoline or gasoline vapors from the tank, but also prevents any dissipation of the vacuum employed within the tank by positively sealing the inside of the tank from the external atmospheric air.

A further advantage of the present invention lies in the provision of two separate vacuum release assemblies, one for automatically shutting olf ow of fluid into a tank when the tank is full, and the other manually operable for controllably venting the tank `and thus shutting od the flow of fluid into the tank at any time desired.

I claim as my invention:

l. A portable nozzle for filling a tank :comprising a conduit adapted to pass liquid therethrough, a tube concentric about said conduit and spaced therefrom to deline an annular vacuum chamber therebetween, said chamber having at least one opening at its lower end for communicating with the inside of the tank when the nozzle is inserted into the tank opening, means providing a substantially airtight joint between the nozzle and the tank openmeans for applying a vacuum to said chamber for evacuation of displaced air, vapors and fumes from said tank during the filling operation, said nozzle including a float movably mounted thereon and responsive to the liquid level in the tank, and means including said float for automatically cutting off said vacuum in the tank and venting the vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the tank is full thereby discontinuing the iilling operation.

2. A portable nozzle for iilling a tank comprising a conduit adapted to pass liquid therethrough, a vacuum chamber closely adjacent said conduit and having at least one opening for communicating with the insidel of the tank when the nozzle is inserted into the tank opening, means providing a su-bstantially airtight joint between the nozzle and the tank opening, means for applying a vacuiun to `said chamber for evacuation of displaced air, vapors and fumes from said tank during the lling operation, said nozzle including a float movably mounted thereon and responsive to the liquid level in the tank, and means including said iiloat for automatically cutting oi said vacuum in the tank and venting the vacuum chamber to the atmosphere when the tank is full thereby discontinuing the lilling operation.

3. A [portable nozzle for filling a tank comprising a conduit adapted to pass liquid therethrough, a vacuum chamber closely adjacent said Iconduit and having at leas-t one vacuum opening at its lower end for communicating with the inside of the tank when the nozzle is inserted into the tank `opening, means providing a substantially airtight joint between the nozzle and the tank opening, means for applying a vacuum to said chamber for evacuation of displaced air, vapors and fumes from said tank during the filling operation, land means including a iioat responsive to the rise of liquid level in the tank for closing said vacuum opening and for venting said vacuum chamber to the atmosphere.

4. A portable nozzle for filling a tank comprising a conduit adapted t-o pass liquid therethrough, a vacuum chamber closely 'adjacent said conduit and having at least one opening at its lower end for communicating with the inside yof the tank when the nozzle is inserted into the tank opening, means providing a substantially airtight joint between the nozzle and the tank opening, means for applying a vacuum to said chamber for evacuation of displaced fair, vapors and fumes from said tank during the filling operation, :a float slidably mounted `on said conduit and responsive to the liquid level in the tank, a closure plate mounted 'on said float for sealing oir said opening when the tank is full, thereby cutting off said vacuum in the tank and discontinuing the illing operation, and means for venting the vacuum chamber to the atmosphere to break the vacuum therein and to facilitate removal of the nozzle from the tank opening.

5, A portable nozzle for lling a tank comprising a conduit adapted to pass liquid therethrough, a tube concentric labout said conduit and spaced therefrom to define an annular vacuum chamber therebetween, said chamber having at least one vacuum opening .at its lower end for communicating with the inside of the tank when the nozzle is inserted into the tank opening, an annular sealing ring secured to one end of said tube about its outer periphery, said ring adapted to t snugly against the tank Iopening for sealing the opening from leakage during the filling operation, means for applying la vacuum to said chamber for evacuation of displaced air, vapors and fumes from said tank during the filling operation, said nozzle including a float movably mounted thereon and responsive to the liquid level in the tank, means including said float for automatically closing said vacuum opening and relievingf the vacuum in the chamber when the tank is full for automatic `discontinuance of the lling operation, and manually operable means for controllably venting said chamber to the atmosphere for breaking said vacuum and discontinuing the filling operation upon the attainment of Iany predetermined level less than a full tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,437,917 Shelor Dec. 5, 1922 1,443,977 Carr Feb. 6, 1923 1,913,078 Hayes June 6, 1933 2,661,886 Speer Dec. 8, 1953 

